http://www.clickz.com/showPage.html?page=3630817
Aegis has imbibed Fort Worth-based Range Online Media, a search marketing and optimization firm whose clients have included Godiva, Aveda, and Macys.com
Seven-year-old Range will be re-branded iProspect, continuing a trend of acquiring and renaming that has so far characterized Aegis' approach to growth in search. Other iProspect acquisitions to meet a similar fate include Globlet in Thailand, rmsarcar.com in Germany, and Extenseo in Belgium.
Isobar first purchased iProspect in 2004, for $50 million. Its network now spans 21 offices in 17 countries.
http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080916/FREE/809169997/1078/newsletter01
Search engine marketing company iProspect has acquired Range Online Media, a Fort Worth, Texas-based search and interactive marketing agency.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Acxiom Acquires Alvion Direct Marketing Unit
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/cwire/20080918/ttc-acxiom-acquires-alvion-direct-market-78e70a2.html
Acxiom said the acquisition will give it an online marketing list-fulfillment platform that can be used by SMBs to access marketing information in a SaaS environment. The Alvion ListKey platform provides list counts, reporting, and fulfillment of data orders, and offers delivery options including small data storefronts, professional storefronts, and "data pipes."
Acxiom said the acquisition will give it an online marketing list-fulfillment platform that can be used by SMBs to access marketing information in a SaaS environment. The Alvion ListKey platform provides list counts, reporting, and fulfillment of data orders, and offers delivery options including small data storefronts, professional storefronts, and "data pipes."
AIG pulls ad campaign
http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080922/FREE/809229997/1078/newsletter01
Only corporate ads are being pulled; AIG will continue its marketing campaigns for business units, including a direct mail campaign for the AIG Private Client Group.
Only corporate ads are being pulled; AIG will continue its marketing campaigns for business units, including a direct mail campaign for the AIG Private Client Group.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
M&A activity in events industry booming
According to DeSilva+Phillips, there were 26 acquisitions of events companies in the first half of this year, compared with 36 deals in all of 2007.
http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080904/FREE/809049991/1078/newsletter01
http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080904/FREE/809049991/1078/newsletter01
Options Media Group to acquire 1Touch Marketing
Hallandale, Fla.—Options Media Group, an e-mail service provider, this week announced it will acquire 1Touch Marketing, a provider of e-mail marketing, Web-based lead generation, and mobile and postal direct marketing. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the month. 1Touch Marketing’s database contains mobile and SMS (short message service or text messaging) records for approximately 142 million opted-in consumer names and 19 million opted-in business names; the company’s Internet-based lead generation services enable advertisers to target messages on consumer, professional and education Web site networks. The acquisition will give Options Media clients the ability to cross-sell and upsell to their existing customers and build their databases with 1Touch Marketing’s prospecting lists, according to the company.
http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080904/FREE/809049993/1115/FREE
http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080904/FREE/809049993/1115/FREE
Monday, September 8, 2008
MDC Partners Forms Cross Ad Exchange Media Management Company
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/080827/20080827005161.html?.v=1
MDC Partners announced today the formation of Varick Media Management (http://www.varickmm.com), the first digital media management company of its kind. The firm will service clients across all online exchanges by focusing on providing clients with media trading and investment management, audience segmentation and analysis, data intelligence and dynamic creative optimization.
MDC Partners announced today the formation of Varick Media Management (http://www.varickmm.com), the first digital media management company of its kind. The firm will service clients across all online exchanges by focusing on providing clients with media trading and investment management, audience segmentation and analysis, data intelligence and dynamic creative optimization.
Digital Bloom opens at Cossette
http://www.marketingmag.ca/english/news/agency/article.jsp?content=20080904_173806_19564
Cossette Communication Group has launched Bloom Digital Platforms, dedicated to the development of new digital marketing technologies.
Initially based in Montreal, Cossette plans to expand the operations to its other offices, including Toronto and New York.
“Bloom is applying Cossette’s depth of industry experience to four product development streams: online advertising platforms, brand reputation technologies, media widgets and mobile applications,” said Pierre Delagrave, Cossette’s president, media, research and interactive services and CEO of Bloom.
Cossette Communication Group has launched Bloom Digital Platforms, dedicated to the development of new digital marketing technologies.
Initially based in Montreal, Cossette plans to expand the operations to its other offices, including Toronto and New York.
“Bloom is applying Cossette’s depth of industry experience to four product development streams: online advertising platforms, brand reputation technologies, media widgets and mobile applications,” said Pierre Delagrave, Cossette’s president, media, research and interactive services and CEO of Bloom.
[ Transcon buys direct marketing company Rastar ]
http://www.marketingmag.ca/english/news/media/article.jsp?content=20080904_173232_13276
Transcontinental Inc. is acquiring Rastar, Inc., a privately owned U.S.-based direct marketing company that specializes in producing fully personalized marketing communications.
Financial terms of the purchase weren’t disclosed in Thursday’s announcement.
However, Transcontinental said Rastar’s 350 employees will join the Montreal-based printing and publishing company, which has a total workforce of about 15,000 in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Rastar founder and chief executive officer, Kevin Despain, and Rastar president Grant Fletcher will maintain their leadership roles.
Transcontinental said Rastar generates about US$50 million in revenue.
That’s a small amount compared with the C $2.3 billion in revenue last year at Transcontinental’s other operations but the Montreal-based company said it sees great potential at Rastar.
“When you combine Rastar’s... leadership in interactive database marketing with Transcontinental’s vision and scope, we are only just beginning to explore the potential of the integrated marketing services we can now offer our clients,” said Francois Olivier, Transcontinental’s president and chief executive officer.
Transcontinental Inc. is acquiring Rastar, Inc., a privately owned U.S.-based direct marketing company that specializes in producing fully personalized marketing communications.
Financial terms of the purchase weren’t disclosed in Thursday’s announcement.
However, Transcontinental said Rastar’s 350 employees will join the Montreal-based printing and publishing company, which has a total workforce of about 15,000 in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Rastar founder and chief executive officer, Kevin Despain, and Rastar president Grant Fletcher will maintain their leadership roles.
Transcontinental said Rastar generates about US$50 million in revenue.
That’s a small amount compared with the C $2.3 billion in revenue last year at Transcontinental’s other operations but the Montreal-based company said it sees great potential at Rastar.
“When you combine Rastar’s... leadership in interactive database marketing with Transcontinental’s vision and scope, we are only just beginning to explore the potential of the integrated marketing services we can now offer our clients,” said Francois Olivier, Transcontinental’s president and chief executive officer.
Microsoft Acquires Greenfield Online and will sell the internet survey solutions business
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080829/microsoft_greenfield_online.html?.v=3
Software giant Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) announced on Friday that it has agreed to acquire Web-based survey company Greenfield Online Inc. (SRVY) and its subsidiary Ciao GmbH - a European based online-shopping portal with websites in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Sweden. The transaction isvalued at approximately $486 million.Greenfield said it entered into a merger agreement to be acquired by Microsoft, via a cash tender offer for $17.50 per share, representing a premium of nearly 10% over Greenfield’s closing share price on August 25. This deal betters an earlier proposal made by Quadrangle Group to acquire the company for $15.50 a share.
Microsoft said it will sell to an unnamed financial buyer Greenfield’s Internet survey solutions [ISS] business, which accounts for about 75% of the company’s overall revenue.
Fleishman-Hillard Acquires Paul Wilmot Communications
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080908/aqm018.html?.v=65
Fleishman-Hillard International Communications announced today that it has finalized an agreement to purchase a majority interest in Paul Wilmot Communications, whose client roster includes some of the world's most respected high fashion and lifestyle brands -- including Calvin Klein, Oscar de la Renta, Tommy Hilfiger, M.A.C. Cosmetics, Sean John, and the American Ballet Theater.
Fleishman-Hillard International Communications announced today that it has finalized an agreement to purchase a majority interest in Paul Wilmot Communications, whose client roster includes some of the world's most respected high fashion and lifestyle brands -- including Calvin Klein, Oscar de la Renta, Tommy Hilfiger, M.A.C. Cosmetics, Sean John, and the American Ballet Theater.
Wasserstein set to acquire Cygnus Business Media
New York—Wasserstein & Co. is set to acquire Cygnus Business Media from ABRY Partners, according to media reports. The deal would take place in a slow period for b-to-b media mergers and acquisitions activity.
Industry sources say that while the deal appears to be close to realization, the credit market remains difficult and may yet derail an acquisition agreement.
http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080815/FREE/949014417/1078/newsletter01
Industry sources say that while the deal appears to be close to realization, the credit market remains difficult and may yet derail an acquisition agreement.
http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080815/FREE/949014417/1078/newsletter01
AKQA on Its Post-Olympics Plans
http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/agency/e3i999ebd327d1b0f7204ba92cfde771125
By the end of the year, the firm expects to top 800 staffers, an increase of 100 just this year. It is also on the hunt for acquisitions, particularly in the media and analytics space, while still eyeing a future public offering.
To keep pace with its growth, the shop is filling out its management ranks. AKQA also shifted its chief financial officer, Tim Pierce, to the role of chief operating officer. He has moved from AKQA's San Francisco headquarters to London. To replace him, AKQA has tapped 25-year Grey Group veteran Lester Feintuck to take his place in San Francisco. Bedecarre notes that Feintuck, who served as CFO for Grey Group, has experience as a chief financial officer when Grey was an independent publicly traded company.
When General Atlantic bought a majority stake in AKQA from Francisco Partners in February 2007, AKQA indicated it would be looking for acquisitions to fill out its services. The only key deal was Searchrev, a small search technology team that brought AKQA bid-management software and the nucleus of a team that formed a search unit. Since then, AKQA has failed to close any deals. It was reportedly interested in U.K. digital media shop i-Level.
Search, media and analytics remain high on AKQA's list. Its bet is to build a digital media operation that combines creativity with expertise in managing bid-based buying systems. In that way, AKQA has tried to carve out a niche in innovative media programs, such as the Visa small-business program launched on Facebook earlier this summer. It gives $100 Facebook ad credits to small businesses that download the Visa application.
By the end of the year, the firm expects to top 800 staffers, an increase of 100 just this year. It is also on the hunt for acquisitions, particularly in the media and analytics space, while still eyeing a future public offering.
To keep pace with its growth, the shop is filling out its management ranks. AKQA also shifted its chief financial officer, Tim Pierce, to the role of chief operating officer. He has moved from AKQA's San Francisco headquarters to London. To replace him, AKQA has tapped 25-year Grey Group veteran Lester Feintuck to take his place in San Francisco. Bedecarre notes that Feintuck, who served as CFO for Grey Group, has experience as a chief financial officer when Grey was an independent publicly traded company.
When General Atlantic bought a majority stake in AKQA from Francisco Partners in February 2007, AKQA indicated it would be looking for acquisitions to fill out its services. The only key deal was Searchrev, a small search technology team that brought AKQA bid-management software and the nucleus of a team that formed a search unit. Since then, AKQA has failed to close any deals. It was reportedly interested in U.K. digital media shop i-Level.
Search, media and analytics remain high on AKQA's list. Its bet is to build a digital media operation that combines creativity with expertise in managing bid-based buying systems. In that way, AKQA has tried to carve out a niche in innovative media programs, such as the Visa small-business program launched on Facebook earlier this summer. It gives $100 Facebook ad credits to small businesses that download the Visa application.
Online Ad Industry Dealmakers Busy Despite Dull Economy
http://www.clickz.com/showPage.html?page=3630591
Despite a weakening U.S. economy during the past year, the level of investment deals and acquisitions involving companies in the online advertising world have remained healthy, says a new report by ContentNext Media.
The "Online Advertising Deals Report" focuses on activity between the second quarter of 2007 and the second quarter of 2008. During the period, there were 160 venture capital investments in the industry, according to the report. Most but not all of those -- 137 -- revealed financial information; disclosed investments added up to more than $1.9 billion.
ContentNext estimates the overall investment in online ad companies during the period -- including the investments where money wasn't revealed -- totaled more than $2.1 billion with the average investment coming in at about $14 million.
http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-our-newest-report-online-advertising-vc-and-ma-deals-in-the-last-year
VC Investments: -- Total number of investments:160 -- Total number of disclosed investments: 137 valued at $1,925,830,000 -- Average investment size: $14,057,153 -- Best estimated value of overall investment in the space (disclosed and undisclosed): $2,126,620,000
Acquisitions: -- Total number of acquisitions: 100 -- Total number of disclosed acquisitions: 46 valued at $17,535,320,000 -- Average acquisition size: $327,313,415 -- Best estimated value of overall transaction in the space (disclosed and undisclosed): $20,594,510,000
The charts below provide a topline overview of how the money was spent (click thumbnails for better view):
Despite a weakening U.S. economy during the past year, the level of investment deals and acquisitions involving companies in the online advertising world have remained healthy, says a new report by ContentNext Media.
The "Online Advertising Deals Report" focuses on activity between the second quarter of 2007 and the second quarter of 2008. During the period, there were 160 venture capital investments in the industry, according to the report. Most but not all of those -- 137 -- revealed financial information; disclosed investments added up to more than $1.9 billion.
ContentNext estimates the overall investment in online ad companies during the period -- including the investments where money wasn't revealed -- totaled more than $2.1 billion with the average investment coming in at about $14 million.
http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-our-newest-report-online-advertising-vc-and-ma-deals-in-the-last-year
VC Investments: -- Total number of investments:160 -- Total number of disclosed investments: 137 valued at $1,925,830,000 -- Average investment size: $14,057,153 -- Best estimated value of overall investment in the space (disclosed and undisclosed): $2,126,620,000
Acquisitions: -- Total number of acquisitions: 100 -- Total number of disclosed acquisitions: 46 valued at $17,535,320,000 -- Average acquisition size: $327,313,415 -- Best estimated value of overall transaction in the space (disclosed and undisclosed): $20,594,510,000
The charts below provide a topline overview of how the money was spent (click thumbnails for better view):
WPP Sets Up Digital Production Arm
http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/agency/e3ibac48fa138167a13bf21f347a452edf5
WPP Group is setting up an offshore digital production arm as a shared resource to build Web assets for its agencies.
Called Deliver, the unit will use WPP's capabilities in Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and South Africa to build Web site wire frames and resize banner ads in cheap labor markets. It has about 700 employees, WPP said.
"Clients are doing more online, and their budgets generally aren't increasing," said Prescott, who spent four years at Digitas. "It often doesn't make sense to do all of the digital production in the local area. That's not to say you shouldn't do any. An awful lot of it can be done offshore, cost effectively and at higher quality."
WPP is following in the footsteps of rival Publicis Groupe, which in May 2007 set up a digital production unit called Prodigious Worldwide. The group was split off from Digitas and is headed by Corey Torrence. It is now part of VivaKi, a group Publicis set up to manage its digital assets.Deliver's capabilities will remain part of the respective agencies, but itWill build a common platform to match shops with production assets. Wherever possible, teams will work in the similar time zones, Prescott said.
"It's not IT outsourcing," he said. "There's a higher level of collaboration required of the teams because of the creative nature of the work."
Many digital agencies already have offshore production capabilities. For instance, WPP's Schematic has staff in Costa Rica and Studiocom has personnel in Colombia. Deliver will draw on the production capabilities of several other WPP shops, including Ogilvy, Zaaz, Agenda in China and Aqua in South Africa.
WPP Group is setting up an offshore digital production arm as a shared resource to build Web assets for its agencies.
Called Deliver, the unit will use WPP's capabilities in Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and South Africa to build Web site wire frames and resize banner ads in cheap labor markets. It has about 700 employees, WPP said.
"Clients are doing more online, and their budgets generally aren't increasing," said Prescott, who spent four years at Digitas. "It often doesn't make sense to do all of the digital production in the local area. That's not to say you shouldn't do any. An awful lot of it can be done offshore, cost effectively and at higher quality."
WPP is following in the footsteps of rival Publicis Groupe, which in May 2007 set up a digital production unit called Prodigious Worldwide. The group was split off from Digitas and is headed by Corey Torrence. It is now part of VivaKi, a group Publicis set up to manage its digital assets.Deliver's capabilities will remain part of the respective agencies, but itWill build a common platform to match shops with production assets. Wherever possible, teams will work in the similar time zones, Prescott said.
"It's not IT outsourcing," he said. "There's a higher level of collaboration required of the teams because of the creative nature of the work."
Many digital agencies already have offshore production capabilities. For instance, WPP's Schematic has staff in Costa Rica and Studiocom has personnel in Colombia. Deliver will draw on the production capabilities of several other WPP shops, including Ogilvy, Zaaz, Agenda in China and Aqua in South Africa.
Publicis Buys Digital Marcom Shop PBJS
http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/agency/e3i666fc0408ab465aa4eb685dd49f436dc
Ever-acquisitive Publicis Groupe has purchased Seattle-based digital marketing company PBJS. That shop's largest client is Microsoft.
The 26-person shop specializes in multi-channel strategic communications and works to cultivate sustainable relationships between brands and their audiences. Events management, interactive media and branded entertainment are all areas of PBJS' expertise.
Microsoft is PBJS' signature account. It produces internal and external events for the software giant. PBJS most visible work has been in the realm of online book promotions for best-sellers like Tom Friedman's The World Is Flat, for which it helped devise a cross-channel episodic extension with MSN, MSNBC and MSNBC.com. AT&T, Intel, Smart Balance Foods and Sephora are also clients.The agency will operate as an autonomous unit of Publicis Events Worldwide, providing video production, Webcasts and interactive exhibition services.
Ever-acquisitive Publicis Groupe has purchased Seattle-based digital marketing company PBJS. That shop's largest client is Microsoft.
The 26-person shop specializes in multi-channel strategic communications and works to cultivate sustainable relationships between brands and their audiences. Events management, interactive media and branded entertainment are all areas of PBJS' expertise.
Microsoft is PBJS' signature account. It produces internal and external events for the software giant. PBJS most visible work has been in the realm of online book promotions for best-sellers like Tom Friedman's The World Is Flat, for which it helped devise a cross-channel episodic extension with MSN, MSNBC and MSNBC.com. AT&T, Intel, Smart Balance Foods and Sephora are also clients.The agency will operate as an autonomous unit of Publicis Events Worldwide, providing video production, Webcasts and interactive exhibition services.
68 percent of respondents said they adopt new techniques 'only after they're proven'
http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/digital/e3ic85eae03c2abe696988774ea091e3319
Forrester's annual report on interactive marketing channels, based on a survey of 333 marketers, found strong and growing interest in relatively all new channels such as social media, online video and user-generated content. Tactics involving social networks, podcasts and user-generated content all showed 100 percent increases in marketer use compared to a similar survey conducted by Forrester last year.
Yet, that enthusiasm was tempered by the pressure to measure the impact of such initiatives in new channels without established metrics. For example, 68 percent of respondents said they adopt new techniques "only after they're proven."
That tends to benefit Internet marketing standbys like search and display ads and e-mail marketing, while newer methods of reaching consumers don't fare as well. In fact, Forrester notes that 15 percent of respondents said they "don't know" their goals for widget and mobile marketing efforts.
That said, measurement is a challenge for most forms of Internet marketing. Over half said they struggle to properly gauge search marketing, reputedly the most accountable online tactic. For online video, 58 percent said measuring effectiveness was the top challenge.
Forrester's annual report on interactive marketing channels, based on a survey of 333 marketers, found strong and growing interest in relatively all new channels such as social media, online video and user-generated content. Tactics involving social networks, podcasts and user-generated content all showed 100 percent increases in marketer use compared to a similar survey conducted by Forrester last year.
Yet, that enthusiasm was tempered by the pressure to measure the impact of such initiatives in new channels without established metrics. For example, 68 percent of respondents said they adopt new techniques "only after they're proven."
That tends to benefit Internet marketing standbys like search and display ads and e-mail marketing, while newer methods of reaching consumers don't fare as well. In fact, Forrester notes that 15 percent of respondents said they "don't know" their goals for widget and mobile marketing efforts.
That said, measurement is a challenge for most forms of Internet marketing. Over half said they struggle to properly gauge search marketing, reputedly the most accountable online tactic. For online video, 58 percent said measuring effectiveness was the top challenge.
Kellogg: Digital ROI Surpasses That of TV
"It's still relatively early in our learning," Mark Baynes, chief marketing officer at the Battle Creek, Mich., company told the Lehman Bros. Back to School Consumer Conference during a discussion on how Kellogg is trying to increase advertising and marketing efficacy. "But analysis of the Special K initiative of the last 18 months showed digital media exceeding that of broadcast ROI."
Kellogg crossed the $1 billion benchmark on ad spending during 2007, and its outlay is set to increase this year. Mr. Baynes said his company spends an additional $300 million on promotional marketing.
Over the past year, Kellogg has been praised for sticking with its advertising spending despite the recession. The company has credited its brand-building efforts with its ability pass some of the heavy commodity-cost increases onto the consumer.
http://adage.com/article?article_id=130747
Kellogg crossed the $1 billion benchmark on ad spending during 2007, and its outlay is set to increase this year. Mr. Baynes said his company spends an additional $300 million on promotional marketing.
Over the past year, Kellogg has been praised for sticking with its advertising spending despite the recession. The company has credited its brand-building efforts with its ability pass some of the heavy commodity-cost increases onto the consumer.
http://adage.com/article?article_id=130747
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